The Magic are trying to maintain an even keel during losing streak

The Orlando Magic are trying not to let their seven-game losing streak grind them down too much.

Arron Afflalo, who often wears his emotions on his sleeve, typically can recover from a single loss by some point the next day.

But seven games in a row? That's tougher.

"I think that the overall streak of losing does start to take a toll on you," Afflalo said Friday. "The game itself I usually can overcome the next day. I think about losing that many in a row. I don't think I've ever lost that many games before."

The Magic (12-20) will attempt to end their streak tonight against the New York Knicks (22-10) at Amway Center.

The sting from a loss doesn't leave Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn until he starts prepping for the next game or sometimes until the next game itself.

But Vaughn also tries to center himself after losses. He studies the game tape, attempts to identify positives and asks himself what he could've done better.

Vaughn never had great physical gifts as a player. Plenty of point guards — even some of those on his own teams — were taller, faster or jumped higher.

But Vaughn viewed himself as someone who could will his way through obstacles, and he's trying to will his way through this current tough stretch.

He wants his players to follow his lead.

"I'm hoping to be the example, the way I carry myself in practice, the consistency, and you'll hear me talk about that," Vaughn said. "And I really feel that, if guys see you, and it's genuine and it's honest from you, then they believe that it's a state that you can live in.

"You still care about what's going on and the outcomes. We all want to win games. But there's a point where the consumption level has to be in a positive way, where you're not letting it override your life and affecting the now and what's next."

The Magic haven't lost this many games in a row since they lost eight consecutive games Feb. 6-22, 2006, under coach Brian Hill.

Vaughn has given Nelson, co-captain Glen Davis and other veterans latitude to set the tone in the locker room during this stretch.

"He kind of allows us to figure it out as a team," Nelson said. "When we're out on the court, he can't figure it out for us all the time, so it's a good thing. I'm not used to it in terms of what I used to go through in terms of coaching.

"I'm not saying whether my last coach was good or bad. But it's just something that I'm just now starting to get used to."

Still outDavis (left shoulder) and point guard E'Twaun Moore (left elbow) didn't practice Friday, and they won't play against the Knicks.

Layups• J.J. Redick was granted an excused absence from practice Thursday and Friday to attend to a family matter, but he's expected to play tonight.